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Pool and pond safety complaints

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Learn about pool and pond health and safety requirements. Make a complaint about an ongoing issue.

Pool with black pool safety fence.

Regulating pools and ponds

The Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2021 (the Local Law) regulates pool and pond maintenance in Brisbane.

Under the Local Law, property owners and tenants are responsible for looking after their:

  • swimming pool
  • portable wading pool
  • pond.

All swimming pools must be built under building approval and planning approval from Council, if required. This helps ensure they comply with building and safety standards. They must also be registered with the Queensland Building Construction Commission (QBCC).

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You can make a complaint about a pool or pond health and safety issue to Council. 

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Make a complaint

Pool and pond maintenance issues

Property owners and tenants are responsible for making sure their swimming pools, portable wading pools and ponds don’t become a health or safety concern.

You can make a complaint about a pool or pond:

  • with inadequate fencing 
  • causing an odour issue
  • with dirty or stagnant water that's affecting water visibility
  • has a build-up of organic matter
  • that is providing a breeding ground for mosquitos
  • that doesn't have a working filtration and chlorination system or equivalent (pools only).
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If a pool's water pump makes excessive noise, you can make a noise complaint.

Fencing

Under the Building Act 1975, all swimming pools must be enclosed by an approved barrier. This helps keep children safe and reduce pool-related injuries.

A barrier can be:

  • fencing for the pool
  • walls of a building enclosing the pool
  • another barrier mentioned in the pool safety standard.

Outdoor spas and wading pools (except for portable wading pools) must comply with pool fencing regulations.

Learn more about pool safety standards and fencing regulations.

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If you see a pool with a damaged barrier or no barrier at all, you can make a complaint.

Dealing with pool or pond maintenance concerns

Before making a complaint to Council, there are steps you should take to deal with a pool or pond health and safety issue.

  1. Talk to the pool or pond owner about your concerns. They may not realise they’re causing issues. You can let them know they’re legally required to maintain their pool or pond.
  2. Give the owner a reasonable amount of time to resolve the issue.
  3. If the issue persists, you can make a complaint.
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If a pool does not meet fencing requirements, make a complaint to Council.

Make a complaint

1 Prepare your documents

To make a complaint about a pool or pond issue, you need to provide:

  • your name, address and phone number (this information is kept confidential)
  • a description of the health or safety issue (main concern and source address).
2 How to make a complaint

To make a complaint about pool or pond health and safety, maintenance, or fencing and barrier issues, contact Council:

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We consider pool fencing issues as urgent and handle these complaints immediately.

3 After making a complaint

After you make a complaint, Council may send a letter to the pool or pond owner. This will give them an opportunity to address the issue.

You also may receive a copy of the letter, as well as a Further Information Request. Complete this form if the owner doesn’t resolve the issue.

Frequently asked questions

You can make a complaint if the water in your neighbour’s pool is dirty and causing odour or safety issues. 

Before making a complaint, have a chat to your neighbour about the issue. They may not know their pool isn’t legally allowed to be that dirty.

If they don’t take steps to resolve the problem, contact Council to make a complaint. 

Yes, there are swimming pool drainage regulations. You need permission from Urban Utilities to release filter backwash from your pool into the sewer network. 

Depending on the type of pool you have, you may be able to:

  • reuse the water on your land or for toilet flushing
  • discharge the water into an infiltration area or sewer.